MARKETERS
Steven Sicular is the new VP of Caban, the Toronto-based chain of urban lifestyle
concept stores. Sicular comes from New York’s Graj + Gustavsen, a brand building agency, where he was EVP. Previous to that, he was VP design at the Gap. At Caban, which recently opened its eighth store, in West Edmonton Mall, Sicular will manage the overall
business strategies to support growth for the four-year-old chain. He says the stores’ mix of fashion, home, books, dining wear and furniture is ‘the future of retail’ and remained coy about the obvious question whether the brand was planning to expand south of the border. ‘We’re preparing to grow,’ is all he would say.
Holt Renfrew has hired Caryn Lerner as president. Also a U.S. import, Lerner was most recently president and CMO of Escada, the upscale women’s apparel, accessory and fragrance brand. Lerner has also held senior management posts at well-known American retail companies including Barney’s New York and Bloomingdale’s.
AGENCIES
It’s always odd when the founder of an agency – one where the door bears his name – goes in search of greener pastures.
Ed Shikatani, co-founder and former partner of Toronto-based Shikatani Lacroix Brand Design, recently signed on as CD at strategic design company Anthem Worldwide.
The hire comes after a two-and-a-half year sabbatical, during which the designer
travelled and ‘recharged his batteries.’
He wasn’t looking for work, he explains, but was courted by Anthem and after two months of meetings he ‘started to get excited’ about the prospect. Working for an international design firm – Anthem’s parent company is Chicago-based packaging consultancy Schawk – appealed to him. ‘At Shikatani Lacroix we were like a rod in the water, fishing for [business], while Schawk is like a dragnet.’
Among his duties at the Toronto shop is the creation of a division focusing on retail environments.
In other news, Jennifer Murray also joins Anthem as VP, strategy. The new post is part of the co’s global growth strategy, says Anne Marie Pagliacci, EVP Anthem Worldwide, which is pegged at 25% sales growth for the year. Are they on track? ‘Absolutely,’ she says.
Brian Sheppard is heading home to become creative group head at St. John’s’ Target Marketing & Communications. He’s spent the last 12 years working at such Toronto agencies as Harrod & Mirlin and Ogilvy & Mather copywriting for the likes of Nabisco, Del Monte and Suzuki. Target’s PR rep Terri Roberts hints that new accounts may be around the corner for the agency.
David Moore has been named president of Toronto-based Leo Burnett. A 17-year-Burnett vet, Moore was most recently EVP/GM. Moore replaces Jim McKenzie, who retains the role of chair and CEO until he retires next year.
